Dean Ambrose vs. Baron Corbin: Keys to Maximizing WWE SmackDown Feud

The battles Dean Ambrose and Baron Corbin will have on WWE SmackDown as WrestleMania 33 draws near won't be Shakespearean. These rivals' story will be more akin to a barroom brawl—severe, punishing, uncomplicated. 

As The Lunatic Fringe looks to fend off the emerging Corbin, WWE will be best off remembering to give the Intercontinental Championship proper attention, display The Lone Wolf's dominance and use this feud as a stepping stone for Corbin.

Other SmackDown rivalries will get more attention, but with the right tone and focus, Ambrose vs. Corbin could be a powerful addition to the midcard. And it can and should be a means to make Corbin one of the blue brand's biggest stars.

Continue Down a Dark Path

Rivals with tight fists and bad intentions are commonplace, but Ambrose vs. Corbin separated itself from SmackDown's other stories on the March 7 edition of the show when it embraced a more savage side.

Corbin ambushed Ambrose backstage, hurling a security guard at him, cracking a pipe over his body and crushing him with a forklift.

That should be only the beginning of a journey into creative brutality. Both Corbin and Ambrose's characters are well-suited for back-alley fights. The enemies should clash outside the ring again, colliding in a parking lot or in a dumpster behind the arena.  

WWE can then build on that by booking a Street Fight at WrestleMania on April 2 between these two, harking back to the no-holds-barred brawl between Goldust and Roddy Piper at WrestleMania XII that saw the wrestlers nail each other with baseball bats, fire hoses and low blows.

Show Off Corbin's Destructive Power

Ambrose is a former WWE champion, a Mr. Money in the Bank, a two-time IC champ and one of the few folks who has pinned John Cena clean on TV. The audience is well aware of who he is and what he can do. The process of establishing Corbin, on the other hand, is still underway.

En route to WrestleMania, Corbin needs to look like a steamrolling force to help sell the idea that he is a real threat to Ambrose.

He should win often and in dominant fashion. On many a SmackDown, he needs to whoop midcarders. He could beat the hell out of Mojo Rawley and/or roll over Rhyno. The more images of him as the victor, the better.

In addition, a sneak attack or two on Ambrose would help his store of momentum.

Spotlight the Intercontinental Championship

As much as this story is about revenge and bad blood, Ambrose vs. Corbin must be a championship match at its core.

The audience needs to see Corbin's desire for the gold and how much it means to Ambrose. The IC title is a powerful narrative tool and the tangible prize these warriors are fighting over. WWE can't push that element to the background as it did with Roman Reigns and Rusev's rivalry over the United States Championship last year.

SmackDown could feature a sit-down interview with Ambrose, where he reflects on what the title means to him. He did well in his first reign to underscore the legacy of the belt. This would be a good time to revisit that sentiment and to see that side of Ambrose again.

And every time Corbin talks about crushing The Lunatic Fringe, he has to mention how badly he wants to claim the IC title as well.

The announcers can bolster the narrative, too. They should talk up how much an IC title win would impact Corbin's career and how much losing it would leave Ambrose spiraling.

Let The Lone Wolf Feast in the End

The feud with Ambrose is poised to catapult Corbin. SmackDown can establish a new star should Corbin overwhelm The Lunatic Fringe en route to championship gold. 

Since the brand split last July, Corbin has been on the verge of reaching the blue brand's upper echelon. He's grown as a performer overall. His momentum is surging.

WWE would be wise to build on that by crowning Corbin.

It doesn't have to be at WrestleMania, but when the feud climaxes, The Lone Wolf should be towering over a fallen Ambrose with the IC title in his grip. Ambrose will be fine without the title; for the less established Corbin, the IC crown is far more important.

His first championship will boost him in a big way, giving him a clear direction in the months ahead.